Therapeutic device



A118- 12, 1947 E. H. ToMPKlNs 2,425,655

` THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed March 22, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l- I 1 lNVE OR ATTORNEY S Aug. 12, 1947. E. H. TOMPKINS 25425655 THRAPEUTIC DEVICE Filed Marenga, 1944 2 sheets-sheet v2 @X Mmmm l 49 I v v Nv 'roR ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 12, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERAPEUTIC DEVICE Edwin H. Tompkins, New York, N. Y.

Application March 22, 1944, Serial No. 527,551

(Cl. 12S-33) 20 Claims.

This invention relates to supports upon Which a person may rest or recline, and more particularly to those by which a person While so resting or reclining may receive therapeutic treatments.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved support of this type, which Will be comfortable to a person resting thereon; with Which a person while so resting or reclining on this support may receive gyra-tory impulses of small amplitude; Withl which the impulses Will have maximum possible uniformity in degree throughout the entire support; With which the source of the impulses may be contained within the support Without seriously interfering with the use of, or increasing the size of the support; Which will be substantially self-contained; with which the impulses transmitted to different parts of the support Will be of maximum intensity, and which will be relatively simple and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved impulse generating device; with Which a firm and more positive transfer of impulses may be obtained; and Which will be relatively simple, easily assembled, efilcient and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved resilient support on which a person may rest or recline; with which an impulse creating device may be incorporated Within its overall limits in a simple manner; with which the impulses may be transmitted throughout the support with maximum effectiveness and uniformity; and which support may be either a mattress, or a spring on which a mattress may be supported.

Other objects and advantages Will be apparent from the following description of some embodiments of the invention, and the novel features will .be particularly pointed out hereinafter in connection with the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a mattress of the type free of internal springs, but having incorporated therein means for creating and transmitting to diierent parts of the mattress gyratory impulses of small amplitude and relatively high frequency;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a face elevation of the casing forming part of the impulse creating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 4 4, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is alongitudinal sectional elevation of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan of a portion of the casing of Figs. 3 to 5, the section being taken approximately along the line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 5,

but illustrating a modified construction for supporting the electric motor;

Fig. 8 is a plan of a resilient unit constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 8, but with padding and a textile enclosure applied thereto when the device is used as a mattress of the inner spring type;

Fig. 11 is a plan of a resilient unit somewhat similar to that of Figs. 8 to 10, but using a different type of resilient element thereon; and

Fig. 12 is a sectional elevation of the same, the section being taken approximately along the line l2-i2 of Fig. 11, and having padding applied to opposite faces thereof, as when the device is to lbe used as a mattress.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the mattress l is of the type commonly known as a cotton-illled mattress having a textile housing 2 of the desired size and shape of the mattress, within Which is a central zone 3 of relatively coarse brous material which provides the resiliency for the mattress, and between this central zone 3 and the textile housing 2 is an enclosing layer 4 of fine, soft, brous material, such as kapok or cotton. This textile housing 2 is provided along one end edge or vertical face with an opening 5 through Which is exposed an impulse-creating element 6 (Fig. 2), which is coupled through a plate l of soft resilient material, snch as sponge rubber or other soft, resilient gum rubber, to relatively rigid bar 8 which extends crosswise of the mattress Within the central ller zone 3.

Disposed similarly adjacent the other end of the mattress is another relatively rigid bar 9, also extending crosswise of the mattress Within the filler zone 4, and flexible tie members or elements I0 extend between the bars 8 and 9 so as to connect them. These tie elements l0 are preferably flat ribbon-like strips connected with their ends to the bars 8 and 9 and Within the lbroadest crosswise dimension approximately horizontal or parallel to the upper and lower faces of the mattress, so that the mattress may flex about axes parallel to its top face. The bars 8 and 9 are preferably in planes normal to the upper and lower faces of the mattress, and may be of any suitable material, such as metal, wood, or other relatively rigid material, Which is not easily compressible, such as soft rubber would be, and which materially normally retains its shape and requires substantial force to flex it.

The device 6 includes a casing Il having a removable cover |12 with flanges which telescope over the open face of the casing. The casing, adjacent its ends, is provided with aligned apertures I3 and I4 in the bottom and cover respectively, which openings, when the casing is made of metal, may be formed by slightly drawing the material to form flanges surrounding the openings. Bolts I pass through each pair of aligned openings I3 and I4 and through the bar 8, so as to secure the casing I I to the bar 8. Disposed between the bottom of the casing `II and the bar 8 is a yplate or body 1 of soft resilient material, such as sponge or gum rubber, which has apertures through which the bolts I5 pass. The aperture I1 in the bar I8, through which the bolt I5 passes, is made larger than the bolt and provided with a bushing I8 of soft gum rubber.

The bolt I5 carries a washer I9 beneath its head and beneath the washer I9 is a washer 20 of soft resilient material, such as soft gum rubber. With such an arrangement, there is no coupling contact between the casing II and the bar 8 through relatively rigid material, but only through the soft resilient material, such as the soft gum or sponge rubber. By tightening the nut 2l on each bolt I5, the casing II can be clamped through the resilient plate or body 1 to the bar 8. This allows some small relative movement of the casing II to the extent permitted by the resiliency of the soft rubber of parts 1, I8 and 20 While 'the casing remains coupled to the bar 8.

The cover VIZ of the casing is provided with a plurality of openings or apertures 22 through whichair may enter and leave the chamber of the casing. If desired, a washer 23 may be provided on the bolt I5 beneath the nut 2I with a bore of a size and shape to receive and fit the flange drawn outwardly from the cover I2 around the opening I4 through which 'the bolt I5 passes. The casing I I is preferably formed of sheet metal or other rigid material, which is not readily combustibl'e, 'and the chamber of this casing is provided'with pair of internal partitions 24. These partitions 24 extend across the chamber of the casing in parallel but spaced apart relation, and have aligned apertures in which are fitted sleeves or collars 25 made of soit resilient material, such as softrubber. The sleeves 25 have seats 26 which fit .the end corners of the housing or casing 21 of a small electric motor `which is disposed within the chamber of the casing in spaced relation to the walls of that chamber.

These seats 26 surround the periphery vof the housing of 'the motor adjacent the ends thereof, and also extend radially towards the center of the motor a distance sui'licient to limit endwise movement of the motor within the casing. The sleeves or elements 25 are of such size that vwhen the motor is disposed between them in the position shown in Fig. 5, these elements 25 will be under partial but incomplete radial compression. The partitions V24 may be separate members secured to the inside walls of the housing, and are preferably stamped .plates which are slid into position between lugs y28 which are stuck inwardly in .the metal of the casing a distance apart suiiicientto provide between them a channel in which the partition plates 24 maybe slid from an open face of the casing when the cover is removed.

The .motor 21 is .provided with an armature shaft 29y which preferably extends from both ends `of the motor housing and on both extending ends carries fans 29, both having the pitch of their blades set to propel air in the samedirection, .and thus .circulate air around and through the motor 21. To facilitate this movement'of `the air, the partitions .2,4 may have apertures 24a (Fig. 4) from face to face at intervals thereof, so that the air may pass alongside oi the housing 21 as well as through the interior of the motor by way of the ends thereof. Also mounted on the armature shaft 29 vadjacent the ends thereof are weights 3I, similarly disposed on the shaft 29 so as to create a substantial axial unbalance von said shaft. When the motor is operated, the centrifugal forces created on the shaft 29 by this imbalance, will tend to drag the shaft in a gyratory path with a frequency the same as the speed of the motor, and the motor is usually a high speed motor. The shaft 29, through its bearings in the housing of the motor 21, will tend to drag the motor 21 in a similar gyratory path of small amplitude, which path is crosswise of the axis of rotation of the shaft 29. The cover is conned to the casing by the nuts 2|, and also by small screws .32 which pass through the flanges ofthe cover into ,the side walls of the casing (see Fig).

In this embodiment of the invention, the circuit wires 33 for the motor may be passed through any suitable wall of the casing, but as shown, they pass through a bushing 34 in a cover of the casing. When the circuit wires 33 are connected to a suitable source of electric current, the motor 21 will operate and rotate the armature shaft 29. The fan blades 3U will pull air in through the openings 22 at one end of the casing, pass it around and through the motor 21 to the other end of the casing and there discharge it through the other openings 22. As the shaft 29 rotatesits axial unbalance due to the Weights 3l will create a centrifugal force tending to pull the motor `21 in a gyratory small, closed-loop path of small diameter.

Because of the resiliency of the sleeves or bushings 25, the motor will move bodily through a small gyrat'ory path to an extent depending to some extent upon the resiliency of the sleeves or bushings 25 yand the speed of the motor. 'I'he motor is ,thus floatingly mounted and as it gyrates within the casing, it acts through the bushings or sleeves 25 to exert a Isimilar impulse on the casing Il, tending to also move it through a gyratory movement of small amplitude, 'Sincethe casing is connected to the bar 8 through the plate 1 of soft resilient material, the casing in turn will impart similar gyratory impulsesto the rigid bar 8. This bar 8, acting through the tie members I0,'will distribute such gyratory impulses throughout the mattress and through the other bar 9..

.A person resting upon such a mattress will receive impulses obtained in this manner. The

physical sensation of a person resting upon amat-r tress While the motor is operating is vvery closely similar .to the sensation Iwhich is received if the hand is placed directly upon the casing IjI While the motor is running, so that there is reason to believe that a person resting upon the mattress receives similar impulses.

When adevice of this type is operating, and the casing II is viewed with a Strobotack,'" thev gyratory movement of the casing is clearlyapparent, even though the diameter of the gyratory path is relatively small. The exact Yphysical changes produced in a person resting upon such a mattress while the motor 'is running have not been positively established'but the indications appear tobe thatV such impulses affect the circulation of the blood in the personreceiving such impulses. Persons with poor circulation, when receiving such impulses exhibit a marked improvement in the circulatory action, and with improved circulation, the .physical condition is often decidedly benefited. It is believed clear that other physical benefits are obtained, but improvement in the circulation will serve as a sufficient example. The motor is preferably disposed within the casing with its armature shaft 29 extending in a direction crosswise of the mattress and approximately parallel to the upper and lower faces of the mattress, so that the impulses received by the patient will be in a direction generally lengthwise of the person.

In Fig. 7, a slight modification of the mounting of the motor in the casing is illustrated. In this case, the motor 21a is provided on its ends with bosses 35 of substantial length, and the armature shaft 29 extends through these bosses 35. The partition 24h extends into proximity to the bosses 35 and is then flanged endwise to provide a bearing portion 36 running parallel to the surface of the boss 35. A sleeve 31 of soft, resilient material, such as soft, gum rubber or sponge rubber, is disposed snugly around each boss 35 and snugly fitting the bearing formed by the flange 36, and the end of each sleeve 31, adjacent the body of the motor housing, is flanged radially in an outward direction as at 38 so as to abut against the ends of the housing and prevent any substantial endwise movement of the motor. The rubber of each sleeve 31 is preferably under some slight compression, but not complete maximum compression of which it is capable, so that the motor may gyrate Iwithin the casing and through the resiliency of the sleeves 31, impart gyratory impulses to the casing l l. Otherwise the action and construction is the same as explained in Figs. 1 to 5.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, a plurality of generally helical coil springs 39 are arranged side by side, with their ends in corresponding planes, and these springs are tied together as usual in inner spring mattresses, or as coil springs for supporting mattresses, in any of the usual constructions. As shown, they are connected in a manner common- 1y employed in making inner spring mattresses, which includes a helical strip 40 of small diameter running along three side edges of the group of springs at both faces. The edge of each face at which the helical strip 49 terminates is provided with relatively rigid bars 4l, which are welded or tied to the coils 39 against which they abut. In this arrangement, three of the coils 39 are omitted in the end, and the bars 4l follow the indentation as shown in Fig. 8, so as to provide a recess in which an impulse unit 9 may be disposed.

This unit 6 is secured through a plate I6 (Fig. 9) of soft resilient material to two vertical strips 42 which are secured to the indented zones of the upper and lower bars 4 I. In other words, the casing ll of the unit 6 is secured by bolts l5 and the plate I6 of soft rubber or similar material, to vertical strips 42, which may be of metal or other relatively rigid material, in the same manner that the casing Il is secured to the bar 8 in the example of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6. The coils 39 when connected together in this manner, provide a resilient unit which alone would serve as a bed spring, but which is preferably provided with pads 43 and 44, Fig. 10, on its upper and lower faces and its side edges, and this padded unit then enclosed in a textile housing 45 corresponding to the textile 2 of Figs. l to 5. Such an arrangement provides an inner spring mattress, which functions in a similar manner to the mattress in Figs. 1 and 2 when the motor in the unit 6 is operated.

In Figs` 11 and 12, a different type of resilient unit is disclosed in which a plurality of generally helical springs 46 are arranged side by side so as 75 to extend all in the same direction, which, in this example, is lengthwise of the mattress, and these springs are preferably disposed with adjacent coils overlapping or interlocking to some extent. A bar 41 extends along the corresponding ends of these springs at one end and another bar 48 similarly extends along the other end. These bars 41 and 48 are connected to the springs in any suitable manner, such as by having struck up bosses 49, Fig. 12, that provide, with the adjacent portions, lugs or eyes through which the turns of the coil springs may extend. The bars 41 and 48 are also connected by tie members 50 of such length that all of the coil springs 46 will be under substantial compression endwise. Some of the central coils are shorter than others, and the bar 48 has an indentation or offset portion 5| conforming to the shorter ends, as shown in Fig. l1, so as to provide a recess in the resilient unit in which one of these impulse-creating units 6 may be mounted in the same manner that the unit 6 is mounted on the bar 8 in Figs. 1 to 5.

The springs 46 may also be connected laterally at suitable intervals along their lengths by helical members 52, and the tie members 50 preferably extend through the centers of the coils of some of the springs. Pads 53 and 54 are disposed upon the upper and lower faces of these springs as usual in inner spring mattresses and also around the edges, a suitable filler material, such as cotton 55 being employed at the corners where necessary. The entire device is then enclosed in a textile housing `56 similar to the housing 2, Figs. 1 and 2.

When the impulse-creating unit 6 is operated, as explained in connection with Figs. 1 to 5, it imparts impulses to the resilient unit formed in this manner and through it to a person resting thereon. The axis of rotation of the motor in unit 6 in Figs. 8 to 12 is preferably the same as explained for Figs. l to 6, where the axis is parallel to the upper and lower faces of the mattress and resilient unit and crosswise of the same, so that the impulses will be largely in directions lengthwise of the mattress or resilient unit.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mattress comprising a hollow textile housing having top and bottom faces connected by vertical side and end edge faces, a rigid casing disposed within the chamber of said housing at one end thereof and having one side wall thereof approximately coincident with one vertical end face of said housing, said one end face having an opening through which access may be had to said casing and said one side wall of said casing being apertured to allow air from outside said housing to enter and circulate through said casing, a bar within and extending crosswise of said housing adjacent said casing, an element of soft, resilient material interposed between said bar and casing, means connecting said bar and casing for clamping them together resiliently and solely through said element, a second bar within said housing adjacent the end opposite from said casing, tie members connecting said bars, the remainder of said housing being filled with soft cushioning means to provide a comfortable mattress, an electric motor within said casing and having a rotatable armature disposed with its axis of rota tion approximately parallel to said top and bottom faces of said housing, said armature having an axial unbalance of substantial amount far in excess of any accidental unbalance due to inaccuracy in manufacture, and soft, resilient cushioning means interposed between said casing and said motor, spacing said motor everywhere from said casing and forming the sale support of said motor from said casing.

2. A support on which persons may rest for therapeutic treatments which comprises a broad, flat body containing cushioning means with a cushioned upper face on which a person is to be supported, a rigid casing, a bar secured to said support, an element of sub-stantial thickness of soft, resilient, cushioning material interposed between said bar and casing, means coupling said casing and bar together with said element under partial but in complete compression and the sole means through which movement may pass in either direction between said casing and bar, relatively stiff members extending from said bar to a pluarlity of different zones of said body and anchored therein, an electric motor within and fully spaced from said casing and having a rotatable armature with an axial unbalance of substantial extent Well in excess of any axial unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, and soft, resilient, supporting means between and spacing apart said motor `and casing and forming the sole support for said motor from said casing.

3. In a therapeutic device, a casing formed of sheet material and having an open face closed by a removable cover, ribs extending along Ithe opposite side walls of the interior of said casingin a direction from said open face and spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the casing, an electric motor within said casing and spaced from the Walls thereof and from said ribs, and soft, resilient means engaging said ribs and endwise opposed portions of said motor to confine the motor against endwise movement and also-engaging peripheral portions to space said motor from said casing and ribs and provide a floating support for said motor, said motor having a rotary armature with 4an axial unbalance of substantial extent wel] in excessof any unbalance dueto inaccuracy of manufacture, whereby said unbalance will cause .bodily gyrations ci the motor that will be yieldingly transmitted through the resilient means to said ribs and said casing.

4. In a therapeutic device, a casing formed of sheet material and having Van open face 4closed by a removable cover, ribsextending ralong the `opposite side walls of the interior of said .casing in a direction from said-open faceand spaced apart in a direction lengthwise of the casing, an electric motor within said casing and spaced from the walls thereof and from said ribs, and soft, resilient means :engaging said ribs and endwise opposed portions of said motor to confine the motor against endwise movement and also engaging peripheral portions to space said motor from-said casing and ribs and providesa'iloating support for said motor, said resilient means being normally somewhat larger than 'the-space which it occupies in mounting said motor and when mounting said motor being under partial `.butincomplete compression, said motor Vhaving a -rotary armature withan axial unbalance of substantlal extent well in excess .ofanyunbalance due toiinaccuracy of manufacture, ywhereby said unbalance willcause ,bodily gyrations ofthe moytor that will `be yiel'dingly'transmitted through the resilient means to said ribs and said casing.

5. In a therapeutic device, a casing, an electric motor entirely within said casing and spaced fully from the walls thereof, said motor having a housing with bosses extending outwardly and endwise from opposite ends thereof, and also an armature shaft extending through said bosses and outwardly beyond the same, said shaft being axially unbalanced Well in excess of any accidental unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, a sleeve of soft resilient material disposed snugly over each boss and having an outwardly radial flange at the end abutting the motor housing, and supporting means Within the casing, adjacent each end of the motor housing, and having apertures through which said sleeves extend snugly, and clamping said flanges against said motor to prevent substantial endwise movement of said motor and Vfloatingly supporting it in spaced relation to the walls of said casing, whereby said armature shaft unbalance will, during operation of said motor, cause bodily gyrations of said m0- tor about the axis of rotation of said shaft, and through said sleeves impart bodily gyrations of small amplitude to said casing.

6. In a therapeutic device, a casing, an electric motor, with a housing and a rotatable shaft, entirely within said casing and spaced fully from the walls thereof, said motor shaft having an axial unbalance well in excess of any accidental unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, sleeves of soft, resilient material disposed peripherally about, and abutting endwise against end portions of said housing for locating said motor housing endwise in said casing and spacing said housing 4from the walls of said casing, supporting means mounting said sleeves in said casing, whereby when said motor operates, said unbalance of said shaft will cause gyrations of said motor about said shaft `and through said sleeves cause gyrations of said casing about said shaft, a relatively rigid member, and a body of soft resilient material disposed under partial but incomplete compression between said member and casing whereby said `casing gyrations will be communicated from said casing to said -member through said body.

'7. A therapeutic device comprising a plurality of generally helical springs disposed side by side and connected into a resilient unit having generally horizontal faces and vertical edge faces, with a relatively rigid element along one of the horizontal corner edges of one of said vertical edge faces of the unit, said unit having a recess in one of said vertical faces, a casing in saidrecess and secured tosaid element,a motor in said casing and having a shaft axially unbalanced well in excess of any unintentional unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, and soft, resilient means spacing said motor wholly from saidrcasing and holding it against substantial :endwise movement in said casing and resisting movement of said motor in `any direction radially `of said shaft.

`8. A `therapeutic device comprising a plurality of generally helical springs disposed side by side, approximately horizontal and connected into a resilient unit having generally horizontalfaces, and vertical edge'faces, with a relatively rigid element along one of the corner horizontal edges of one of said vertical edge faces of the unit, said unithaving a recess in said vertical face, a casinginsaid recess and secured to said element, a motor-in said casing and having'a shaft `axially unbalanced well in excesslof any unintentional unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, and soft, resilient means spacing said motor wholly from said casing and holding it against substantial endwise movement in said casing and resisting movement of said motor in any direction radially of said shaft.

9. A therapeutic device comprising a plurality of generally helical springs disposed side by side and connected into a resilient unit having generally horizontal faces, and vertical edge faces, with a relatively rigid element along one of the horizontal corner edges of one of said vertical edge faces of the unit, said unit having a recess in said vertical face, a casing in said recess and secured to said element, and means within said casing for imparting to said casing and through it to said unit, impulses urging said unit in a small, closed loop, gyratory path whose axis is approximately parallel to the horizontal faces of said unit.

l0. A resilient support on which a person may rest or recline, which comprises a plurality of generally helical springs disposed side by side, relatively rigid elements extending across corresponding ends of all of said springs, tie means extending between said elements under tension, placing all of said springs under compression, and forming a resilient unit, and padding disposed on opposite faces of said unit formed by the sides of the springs.

11. A resilient support on which a person may rest or recline, which comprises a plurality of generally helical springs disposed side by side, re1- atively rigid elements extending across corresponding ends of all of said springs, tie means extending between said elements under tension so as to place all of said springs under compression, and form a resilient unit, padding disposed on opposite faces of said unit formed by the sides of the springs, a casing secured to said element at one end of the unit and disposed within the overall length of the unit, and means within said casing for imparting to said casing and through it to said unit, impulses tending to gyrate said unit about an axis parallel to said opposite faces in a small, closed loop path.

12. A therapeutic device comprising a plurality of generally helical springs disposed side by side and connected into a resilient unit having generally horizontal faces, and vertical edge faces, with a relatively rigid element along a, horizontal corner edge of one of said vertical edge 4faces of the unit, said unit having a recess in said vertical face, and said element having an offset zone following said recess, a casing in said recess and secured to said element, and'means within said casing for imparting to said casing and through it to said unit, impulses urging said unit in a small, closed loop, gyratory path whose axis is approximately parallel to the horizontal faces of said unit.

13. In a mattress of the type having a hollow, textile housing with top and bottom faces connected by vertical side and end edge faces and a recess in one edge face thereof, a rigid casing disposed within said recess, impulse transmitting means within said housing and connected to said casing, means within said casing for causing small gyratory movements of said casing about axes parallel to the top and bottom faces of said housing, and cushioning means within said housing for resiliently opposing approach of said top and bottom faces, that improvement which comprises an element of soft, resilient cushioning material interposed between said casing and said l o impulse transmitting means, and means for connecting said casing and said impulse transmitting means and clamping them together resiliently and solely through said element of resilient material, whereby the gyrations of said casing will impart gyrato-ry impulses through said resilient element to said impulse transmitting means.

14. In a mattress of the type having top and bottom faces, a plurality of coil springs disposed side by side with corresponding ends in a common plane parallel to said top and bottom faces, and with the corresponding ends of adjacent springs tied directly and flexibly together to form a resilient unit, padding on said corresponding ends, and a textile housing enclosing said padding and resilient unit, that improvement which comprises a relatively rigid element extending in a direction crosswise of the axes of the springs at one end of the unit and directly tied to the springs along that end of the unit, a rigid casing secured to said element, and means within said casing for imparting to said casing gyratory impulses of small amplitude about an axis parallel vto the padded faces of said unit.

l5. In a mattress of the type having top and bottom faces, a plurality of coilsprings disposed side by side with corresponding ends in a common plane parallel to said top and bottom faces, and with the corresponding ends of adjacent springs tied directly and flexibly together to form a resilient unit, padding on said corresponding ends, and a textile housing enclosing said pad.- ding and resilient unit, that improvement which comprises a relatively rigid element extending in a direction crosswise of the axes of the springs at one end of the unit and directly tied tothe springs along that end of the unit, a rigid casing secured to said element, an electric motor within said casing, spaced from the walls thereof, and having a rotary driven shaft extending parallel to the top and'bottom faces of said unit and having an axial unbalance of substantial extent, well in excess of any unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, and soft, yresilient means forming the sole and a floating support between said motor and said casing, whereby said unbalance will cause bodily gyrations ofthe motor that are yieldingly transmitted by the soft, resilient means, as gyratory impulses to said rigid casing and through the casing and said rigid element to said unit and padding.

16. In a therapeutic device of the mattress type having top and bottoni faces, a plurality of coil springs disposed side by side, with their axes parallel, and with corresponding ends in a common plane parallel to said upper and lower faces, corresponding ends of abutting springs being articulately and flexibly coupled, and forming a resilient unit, padding on the upper and lower faces of said unit, a textile housing enclosing said padding and the unit, said unit having a recess due to omission of springs in one edge thereof, that improvement which comprises a rigid element extending along the vertical face of said one edge for a substantial part of the length of that edge, and having an indentation following said indentation of said unit, said element being coupled to the springs in the row along which it extends, a rigid casing coupled t0 said element and disposed in the recess formed by said omitted springs, an electric motor within said casing, fully spaced from the walls thereof, and having a rotary shaft driven thereby, with an axial unbalance of substantial extent well in excess of ani7 unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture,

and soft, resilient, cushioning means interposed between said motor and said casing and forming the sole and a floating support for said motor and shaft in said casing, with the motor and its shaft fully spaced from the walls of said casing, and with the axis of rotation of said shaft parallel to the upper and lower faces of said unit, whereby the unbalance of said shaft will cause, when said motor is operated, bodily gyrations of said motor in said casing which will be yieldingly transmitted as gyratory impulses through said soft, resilient, cushioning means to said casing and through the casing and said element to said resilient unit.

17. In a mattress of the type having a hollow textile housing with top and bottom faces connected by vertical side and end edge faces, a rigid casing disposed within the chamber of said housing at one end thereof and having one side wall thereof approximately coincident with one vertical end face of said housing, said one end face having an opening through which access may be had to said casing and said one side wall of said casing being apertured to allow air from outside said housing to enter and circulate through said casing, a bar Within and extending crosswise of said housing adjacent said casing, a second bar within said housing adjacent the end opposite from said casing, and tie members connecting said bars, the remainder of said housing being filled with soft cushioning means to provide a comfortable mattress, an electric motor within said casing and having a rotatable armature disposed With its axis of rotation approximately parallel to said top and bottom faces of said housing, said armature having an axial unbalance of substantial amount far in excess of any accidental unbalance due to inaccuracy in manufacture, and soft, resilient cushioning means interposed between said casing and said motor, spacing said motor everywhere from said casing and forming the sole support of said motor from said casing, that improvement which comprises an element of soft, resilient material interposed between said barl and casing, and means connecting said bar and casing for clamping them together resiliently and solely through said element.

18. In a support on which persons may rest for therapeutic treatments of the type having a broad, dat body containing cushioning means with a cushioned upper face on which a person is to be supported, a rigid casing, a bar secured to said support, relatively stiff members extending from said bar to a plurality of different zones of said body and anchored therein, an electric motor within and fully spaced from said casing and having a rotatable armature with an axial unbalance of substantial extent well in excess of any axial unbalance due to inccuracy of manufacture, and soft, resilient, supporting means between and spacing apart said motor and casing and forming the sole support for said motor from said casing, that improvement which comprises an element of substantial thickness of soft, resilient, cushioning material interposed between said bar and casing, and means coupling said casing and bar together with said element under partial but incomplete compression, and the sole means through which movement may pass in either direction between said casing and bar.

19. In a therapeutic device of the type having a plurality of coil springs disposed side by side, with abutting springs articulately and directly connected to each other to form a resilient unit having generally horizontal faces parallel to the planes of the ends of the coil springs, that improvement which comprises a relatively rigid element extending horizontally along one of the vertical edge faces of the unit, and coupled to a plurality of the abutting coils, a casing secured to said element, a motor in said casing fully spaced from the walls thereof and having a shaft driven thereby and axially unbalanced to an extent well in excess of any accidental and unintentional unbalance due to inaccuracy of manufacture, and soft, resilient, cushioning means spacing the motor wholly from the casing and holding it against substantial endwise movement in the casing and forming the sole and a oating support for said motor by which the motor, when operated, due to said unbalance, will be free to gyrate in a small, closed loop path about the axis of rotation of said shaft, and impart similar gyratory impulses to said casing, and through the casing to said resilient unit.

20. In a, therapeutic device of the type having a resilient unit on which a person may rest, a casing attached to the unit with means within the casing for imparting to the casing, gyratory impulses in a small, closed loop path, that improvement which comprises a rigid element connected to the unit, a body of soft, resilient, cushioning material interposed between said casing and rigid element, a fastening member passing through said casing, said cushioning body and l said rigid element, and cushioning means interposed between said fastening member and said rigid element, whereby gyratory impulses will be transmitted from said casing to said rigid element and resilient unit, solely through said soft, resilient cushioning body and said resilient material.

EDWIN H. TOMPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Tompkins Mar, 28, 1944 

